It is 5:30 in the morning as I type this, and I’d honestly much rather be asleep. Sleep hasn’t been my friend lately, though, with many a way-too-early-for-humankind morning to prove it. I could be grumpy. After all, I’ve already been up for over an hour, and my alarm won’t go off for another 50 minutes. (Yes, a normal person would probably turn it off since she’s already up.) Grumpy isn’t generally my style, though. Even when things aren’t going exactly the way I want, I remember all that I have to be grateful for. I don’t ignore or forget the problems I have – they just can’t overshadow the shining light cast by all the goodness and grace God has poured out on me.
So that’s why I’m sitting here at 5:30 in the morning with a cup of coffee and what probably looks like a silly grin on my face.
Because God isn’t just good. He’s the best. He’s everything.
Okay, and maybe because I started work yesterday on a new novel, and I’m so, so excited about this one.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m always excited about new projects, but I had to put active writing on the back-burner for a little while during this past school year. My semester at seminary is finally over, though, and I only have a few days left in the school year where I teach. And this story – it’s a good one. It has been rattling around in my mind for the last couple of months. The characters have been growing and becoming more and more lifelike and real to me, and I can’t wait to get started.
I had a final exam a few weeks ago. It was a three-hour timed test, and it took me nearly that entire time. The next morning, though, I woke up, and I knew – I knew without a doubt – the story God wanted me to write. (Let’s face it. Sometimes there are too many stories rattling around up there, and I have a hard time choosing.)
As many of you know, I started working on Sunny’s story for the Rainbow Falls series a while back. Unfortunately, her story hasn’t come together the way I would like. It’s still going to get written. I adore her hero, and I can’t wait to tell his story and how Sunny discovers her true self as she uncovers that story. I’m putting Sunny aside for a little while, though, to work on Olive’s story.
Olive’s hero is a powerful presence. He is strong and dynamic…and broken. He’s not the warm, fuzzy type. He’s not even the nice-guy-next-door type. He doesn’t want Olive in his life. He doesn’t want to like her, and he most definitely doesn’t want to need her. Somehow, though, they’re going to get from him slamming the door in her face to a (spoiler alert) happily-ever-after.
It feels oh-so-good to have the keyboard under my fingertips as they tape dance to the rhythm to endless possibilities.
It may be way too early in the morning, but here I sit with a cheek-splitting smile as I think about Olive and the guy that has zero intention of sweeping her off her feet.
Yes indeed, God is more than good.
Has God ever asked you to take a break from something you love?
What did it feel like to get back to it?
Heather Gray loves coffee, God, her family, and laughter – not necessarily in that order! She writes approachable characters who, through the highs and lows of life, find a way to love God, embrace each day, and laugh out loud right along with her. And, yeah, her books almost always have someone who's a coffee addict. Some things just can't be helped. Despite their different lives and situations, Heather’s characters have something in common. They're all flawed...but loved anyway.
Hi Heather- yay, glad for you. I prefer mornings, but I have to confess that with the onset of winter it can be quite hard to get out of a warm bed!!
What a great question- I genuinely have never thought about this before! While I cannot answer now- I will definitely be pondering this.
Blessings:)
Hi Heather! While I am a morning person, I first want to enjoy the leisure of savoring several cups of coffee and reading before dressing for the day. Even in retirement not always possible with Oma Daycare duties. In my life I can think of several occasions when God asked me to take a break from something you love. First was in college when I was chosen to study a year in Germany, but financially that wasn’t possible. Had I gone, I would not have meet my husband and life would have been different. Second time was after my first year teaching where the school let all first year teachers go. Which was fine, I was getting married, but when no other teaching job was available, I worked corporate for four years. Received lots of valuable experience that I later used in my teaching. Finally, when I was forced to retire from teaching. Gut wrenching until I realized my family needed me and there are other ways to find fulfillment. Blessings. I really enjoyed Skye’s story at Rainbow Falls, Montana. Happy Writing.
So happy for your early morning bliss, Heather! Am a morning person myself?
After having my third child, the Lord impressed it upon me to step away from any ministries I was involved with and focus on raising my children. They became my mission field, my priority at that time. I knew it was a season and gladly embraced it.
They are all grown now and I don’t regret the decision one bit. The Lord has provided many opportunities since then to serve Him since then.
Well, I can so identify with your early morning thing. For the last 10 years I have had sleeping troubles. And about 6 months ago I found NOW Melatonin. I only use 1 mg and it gives me a great night sleep. (NOW is the brand that I know and trust to be pure and it does what it says it will – doctor recommended ) Yes I have had God stop me in my tracks, mostly because I was arguing with Him. And funnily enough, when I started listening and obeying, oh my, it was the best of times. LOL We are funny humans sometimes. Have a fantastic day and continue to follow His leadings.
As a child, I was a morning person. Not so much any more!! I can relate to not sleeping well, though. I like hero’s that aren’t the warm fuzzy type, it makes them a little more real. I don’t think I’ve been asked to take a break from something I love, cause that would be reading, and I don’t take breaks from it!!
Congratulations, and Yay! I can’t wait to get back to Rainbow! I had to take a break (indefinitely) from completing my bachelors degree. Due to a lousy set of circumstances, I wound up just a few classes short at the time of my graduation. I hope with persistence and grace, that I will finish eventually, and hold that degree in my hand. I worked too hard for it!
I love mornings where I can read and enjoy a flavored coffee.
I’ve spent most of my life being a morning person, but even so, I still like to wake up once I’ve had enough sleep – not before. ^_^
Thank you for visiting the blog today!
I’m glad you could visit the blog today Renate! I’m with you – even though I think of myself as a morning person, I do like to ease into my morning. I don’t like to be on the go as soon as I get up – it makes me feel rushed, and then I end up forgetting things.
Mornings are the best! :-)
Susan – Thank you for sharing! It’s so easy to get busy with life – including church life and ministry – that we forget about the importance of the mission field we have right at home. I’m so glad you followed God’s leading and were able to be where he wanted you to be. I’m sure your obedience was a blessing not only to you, but also to your children.
Arguing with God? Never! ^_^
Thank goodness that God has the patience and grace to stop us in our tracks rather than just give up on us and our silly, obstinate, confusing ways.
I’ve heard great things about melatonin. It’s had a hit and miss success with me. One brand I tried even made me sick to my stomach. I’ll have to check out the brand you suggested.
Hahaha! You made me chuckle. As a writer, I can say I’m quite glad that God hasn’t asked you to take a break from reading! ^_^
And you’re right about real heroes – I’m not anti-warm-and-fuzzy, but I do like a hero that has enough flaws to make him real and relatable. The same for heroines. I know how flawed I am, and I find it hard to relate to or invest in characters that are *too* perfect. They should all have some sterling qualities (otherwise it’s hard to make another character fall in love with them), but those qualities should be balanced with other realistic (and maybe less attractive) qualities.
Hi Teri! I’m glad you could stop by the blog today! I have a friend who finally got her degree last year. She worked on that degree off and on for over twenty years. It took her a long time, but she was so proud of herself when she finally finished it. Three cheers for perseverance! As for the lousy set of circumstances, that happens sometimes – but even when things happen that are completely beyond our control, we can rest in knowing that God is completely in control and that our crazy circumstances didn’t surprise Him in the least. Hugs!
A friend recently gave me some blueberry-flavored coffee. My husband and son have both tried it, but I haven’t been brave enough. It smells lovely. I just can’t quite put those two flavors together in my brain. I’m going to have to give it a try, though, before it’s all gone. What’s your favorite flavor?
Sorry I am late to this post. After battling melanoma, my husband convinced me to retire with 27 years of teaching instead of working another three years to make 30. At the time, I was uncertain if it was the right direction for my life. However, I agreed, and we enjoyed a year of time together. But now I am thankful he was a little pushy. Because I am retired, I have the time to deal with my mother, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Since her diagnosis in March, I have spent every other week away from home, helping mom get ready to move into an assisted living facility. Our life is on hold, mine as I travel out of state to spend every other week with my mother, and my husband, as he stays at home, allowing me to go and lifting me in prayer while I am gone. I am realizing that we are in for the long haul. But I am looking forward to the time Mom is in a safe place, where people are checking on her, and she is not so responsible for her meals and her medication. Maybe I will sleep better . . . then.